Betty Crocker Cookbook - New Edition Review

by Betty Crocker Editors

Overall 4.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

this2shallpass19
San Diego Super Charger's, CA

Every beginner cook needs to buy this cookbook!

love to cook, cookbook collector

Pros

Hundreds of helpful tools, Many pictures & diagrams

Cons

Not a picture of every recipe

DEC

2008

Knowing that I collect cookbooks, my husband bought the Betty Crocker Cookbook - New Edition for me for Christmas last year. I probably wouldn't have bought it for myself, so I am glad he did because it is a much better cookbook then I anticipated.

Let me start by saying that the reason why I wouldn't have purchased this cookbook for myself is because I prefer to cook authentic ethnic meals from scratch and I thought Betty Crocker was all pies and casseroles. I was wrong! Not only does this cookbook include some of your well-known ethnic recipes, it includes your all-American favorites that families have been making for generations. I live in California and we don't cook the Southern favorites that my husband grew up on in West Virginia. So when there is something he wants like biscuits & gravy, I just whip out my Betty Crocker Cookbook.

What I like about this cookbook are the helpful tools throughout the cookbook. There are diagrams, pictures and definitions for everything you could possibly need. There are pictures showing how to cut a pineapple, how to julienne vegetables and how to separate egg an yolk from the white. There are definitions for culinary words like: panbroil, blanch and saute. There is a chart that shows all the different chilies & peppers and how hot they are. There is a food storage chart that says how long food can be stored in the refrgerator and freezer. There are so many helpful tools, I couldn't list them all.

The body of the cookbook is separated by the following tabs:

Appetizers & Beverages
Breads
Cakes & Pies
Casseroles & Slow Cooker
Cookies & Candies
Desserts
Eggs & Cheese
Fish & Shellfish
Grilling
Meats
Poultry
Rice, Grains, Beans & Pasta
Salads & Salad Dressings
Sauces, Seasonings & Accompaniments
Soups, Sandwiches & Pizza
Vegetables & Fruits
Vegetarian
20 Minutes or Less

Each tabbed section is not only filled with recipes but also includes even more helpful tools. For example, in the Cakes & Pies section, there is a chart for "cake cures" that will explain what malady might have happened to your cake depending on what it looks like. In the Eggs & Cheese section, there is a chart that describes 40 popular cheeses by how hard they are, what they are best used for and what they taste like.

The Scoop!

Even though I might not be able to find a recipe for a Greek dish I have been craving, this cookbook is great for all the informational tools it provides. This would be an excellent gift for someone that just got married or is learning how to cook. I am glad I have this cookbook in my repertoire. The only complaint I have is that there is not a picture of every recipe. If you know what you want to make, it wouldn't matter, but if you are searching for something new to make, your appetite is first whet by the picture and there aren't very many recipe pictures in this cookbook.

Last edited on Dec 08, 2008

Betty Crocker Cookbook - New Edition is recommended by this2shallpass19

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Comments about this2shallpass19’s Review

In response to GigiandAdonai's comment from Dec 28, 2008 at 10:10PM:

I would love it if you caught the red eye :)

When I was younger my mother would write out her menu for 7 meals and then go grocery shopping for everything for those 7 meals. She shopped every Thursday and never needed to go to the grocery store between trips; except for to replenish milk and bread.

I also love cookbooks and trying new recipes whenever I am entertaining dinner guests AKA kids for all nighters, family, etc.

Since you are becoming the great chef I shall catch the red eye for dinner sometime. Just don't make lasagna or use pomegranates ;+) Big hug to you! ~Gigi

In response to this2shallpass19's comment from Dec 8, 2008 at 4:39PM:

I do that for a week at the time. Great minds think alike!

In response to Meri's comment from Dec 8, 2008 at 4:24PM:

You want to know how weird I am? Once every two weeks, I prepare my menu for the dinners that we are going to eat for the following two weeks. I take all of my cookbooks and put them on my dining room table and I go through them until something catches my eye. Let's just say it is pretty time consuming, but I enjoy looking at all the recipes :)

I have SO many cookbooks and they still haven't turned me into a gourmet chef! ;-)

In response to jasyjen's comment from Dec 8, 2008 at 3:13PM:

Me too! Cooking is very therapeutic for me. When you are chopping onions, you aren't thinking about anything except chopping onions - well unless your 10 month old is holding on to your legs :)

Very cool review. I LOVE to cook.

In response to vivasuzi's comment from Dec 8, 2008 at 12:00PM:

That's a funny thought! I think he got it for me because we enjoyed a dinner at a friends house and she used this cookbook for the entire meal. Thanks for reading.